The best traffic-free bike rides around Masate

The bridge over the Muzza Canal, located in Lavagna (a hamlet of the municipality of Comazzo in the province of Lodi), is a historical landmark for crossing this ancient artificial waterway. The Muzza is a branch of the Adda river, known for being one of the oldest canals in Europe. Lavagna Lodigiana is a small rural village immersed in the countryside that develops right next to the canal. The bridge area is frequented by cyclists and hikers who travel along the Muzza cycle path or the Muzza-Ponte di Lavagna route, enjoying the river landscape.

The Muzza Canal is one of the most important and oldest hydraulic engineering works in Europe. It is a large artificial branch of the Adda river that crosses the Lombard plain. For centuries, it has represented the main resource for irrigating the lands of the province of Lodi and southern Milan. It originates in Cassano d'Adda (Milan), drawing water directly from the Adda near the Visconti castle. It ends its course after about 39-40 kilometers (over 60 km considering the entire main network), rejoining the Adda at Castiglione d'Adda (Lodi).

The Naviglio Martesana cycle path (also called Naviglio Piccolo) is a cycle-pedestrian route of about 36 kilometers that connects the center of Milan with the Adda river, reaching up to Trezzo sull'Adda or Cassano d'Adda. Completely flat and asphalted, it is an ideal itinerary for families, urban cyclists, and cycle tourists of all levels.

Unique wildlife oasis, perhaps the last of all ecosystems in urbanized areas. An environment to be respected and carefully maintained. I think of the devastation that routes D and C of the foothill highway will cause. Let's stop useless works and preserve what our territory still offers us.

The Muzza Canal is the oldest in Europe and this year, its 800th anniversary was celebrated by the Municipality of Paullo in collaboration with the Pro Loco and other Municipalities. Its origin dates back to the year 1220, when Frederick II of Swabia, crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, issued an imperial edict that granted the people of Lodi the right to use the waters flowing through their territory. The current route, about 60 km long, receives the waters of the Adda at Cassano d’Adda, at an altitude of 120 m above sea level, crosses the Lodi territory for about 40 km up to near Castiglione d’Adda, at an altitude of 45 m above sea level, and here it releases them back into the Adda. It has a regulated water regime, with a flow rate, depending on the seasons, of about 200,000 liters of water per second; an initial width of 50 meters which reduces to a few meters at the end of its course and an average depth of 2 meters.

The Muzza canal (61 km long in total) is a branch of the Adda River and has recently celebrated its 800th anniversary, making it one of the oldest in Europe. Its name, with slight variations over the centuries, still recalls the Roman family Mutia who moved here in 90 BC, starting the first land reclamation works. Smaller watercourses branch off from the wide canal, winding through the countryside for a total length of about 1000 kilometers, mainly intended for agricultural irrigation. The surrounding landscape of countryside and farmhouses is evocative, with a succession of tree-lined rows and open fields. It is also very interesting from a naturalistic point of view as it attracts many aquatic birds that can be observed along the route.

The course of the Naviglio Martesana in Cernusco is also a Park. It extends across the entire width of the territory of Cernusco sul Naviglio, from the border with Cassina de'Pecchi to that with Vimodrone.

Easy cycle path suitable for everyone!